Owls Head Light Volunteers Amy Faunce and Linda Strout Presented with ALF Award

Amy Faunce and Linda Strout of ALF’s Friends of Rockland Harbor Lights were each presented with an ALF Len Hadley Volunteer Award during the American Lighthouse Foundation’s annual gala, which was held at the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport, Maine, on April 29, 2018.

The public at large is always excited to visit a lighthouse, but when they have the opportunity to get inside and climb to the top of one, their anticipation and sense of fun is raised quite a few more notches.

As we all know, in order for visitors to be provided access to a lighthouse, dedicated and responsible volunteers are needed – and not just to “open the door,” but to engage people in both a meaningful and educational manner as well.

At Owls Head Lighthouse, the team of Amy Faunce and Linda Strout can be regularly counted on to volunteer for a weekly shift from Memorial Day through Columbus Day each year. Linda’s duties include staffing the entryway to the lighthouse where she welcomes visitors with a smile and readily answers a myriad of questions.

“Holding down the fort” at the base of the tower is no easy task when the summer crowds start lining up a good bit down the stairs that lead to the lighthouse. Linda does a great job of engaging people and keeping the lined-up visitors patient as they wait their turn to climb the tower. She is also adept at explaining to people how important donations are to the lighthouse and the wonderful work such monies can fund when it comes to keeping the tower looking its best.

All the while, Amy is topside in the lighthouse, sharing the history of the light station and fielding an array of questions about the beautiful fourth-order Fresnel lens which adorns the lantern. From how old the lens is and where was it made, to what size lamp is inside and what distance can the light be seen, are never-ending inquiries.

Amy is also responsible for making sure people enter and exit the lantern safely through the hatchway and that no one touches the Fresnel lens. She is also constantly improving her photography skills with all kinds of devices thanks to countless people asking her to take their picture next to the lens. And if that was not enough, on hot summer days, Amy must endure a shift in the lantern when temperatures exceed everyone’s deemed comfort level.

Thanks to wonderful volunteers like Amy and Linda, the general public’s learning experience at Owls Head Lighthouse is that much more rewarding and memorable. We are pleased to honor Amy Faunce and Linda Strout with a 2018 Len Hadley Volunteer Award!